Edward Rutherfurd's "China" is epic in every sense of the word. It's a brilliantly fictionalised account of the history and culture of the country. I particularly enjoyed the insight into rural and Palace life. Rutherfurd pulls no punches and effectively conveys the brutality of war. He also shines a light on how truly awful, self-serving and exploitative the British are. This is the first book I've read from this author and I look forward to reading more.